Sound Tiger Ryan Strome looks to extricate himself after being knocked inside the Springfield net during the second period of their AHL hockey matchup at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Sunday, October 13, 2013.
Photo: Brian A. Pounds

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Game dayBinghamton Senators at Sound TigersWHEN: Sunday, 3 p.m.WHERE: Webster Bank Arena WEBCAST: www.soundtigers.comRECORDS THROUGH FRIDAY: Binghamton 3-2-0-0; Bridgeport 1-3-0-0SEASON SERIES: First meeting of two. The teams split two games last year. LAST MEETING: Bridgeport won 4-2 at home Jan. 19. ABOUT THE SENATORS: This will be Binghamton's third game in three days; the Senators beat Syracuse 6-2 on Friday but lost a rematch 4-1 at home Saturday night in Binghamton. ... Former Sound Tigers G Nathan Lawson made 40 saves Friday and 28 Saturday. ... F Stephane Da Costa, sent down Friday from Ottawa, had two assists; D Chris Wideman had three. ABOUT THE SOUND TIGERS: The New York Islanders sent down C Brock Nelson, Bridgeport's leading scorer last year (25-27-52), Saturday night. ... This ends Bridgeport's five-game, season-opening (16-day) homestand. ... With LW Brett Gallant and RW Chris Bruton out injured, Bridgeport called up RW Nick Larson from Stockton (ECHL). ... Bridgeport's only win came in a shootout. ... The power play is in an 0-for-18 dip. UP NEXT: Saturday at Syracuse, 7 p.m.-- MICHAEL FORNABAIO

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BRIDGEPORT -- Ryan Strome's goals and dreams aren't here, though really it would be surprising if too many Bridgeport Sound Tigers' players goals and dreams were here.

Strome wants the next level. He wants to be in the NHL. He wants to fulfill the promise of being a fifth overall draft pick of the New York Islanders two years ago.

"I think I've shown at times I can be a dominant player in this league at times," said Strome, who has three assists in the Sound Tigers' first four games. "Other times, there are parts that are going to need improvement.

"Overall I've just been learning a lot. I'm still pretty young in my pro career, two weeks. There are some positives, and some things I want to improve on."

Strome, 20, is OK with making those adjustments in the AHL -- Bridgeport's fifth game is Sunday afternoon at home against Binghamton -- to be a more complete player when the Islanders come calling.

The goal is, "when I go up, I'm ready to make an impact," Strome said.

Strome has had some brilliant moments for Bridgeport so far. There was the beauty of an opening-night backhand pass to linemate Anders Lee; the right-handed shot sent it from the left side of the net into the slot for the Sound Tigers' first goal of the year.

He had a big day in Game 2, setting up Andrey Pedan for a goal, working as part of a power play that set up Joey Diamond. On a different power play, he won three consecutive faceoffs that led to a handful of scoring chances.

But he had some quieter games, like last weekend when Bridgeport lost two games.

"For a lot of players, it's not only the pace of the game (that's different) but it's knowing how to push yourself every shift to get to that level," Sound Tigers coach Scott Pellerin said. "While they may have played huge amounts of minutes and been a superstar in junior or college hockey, at this level they'll play fewer minutes. The need to pace themselves is no longer there.

"Now they have to get that edge and push themselves."

Strome said he has worked with assistant coach Eric Boguniecki on conditioning and cardio to make that adjustment easier.

"It's got to be each shift, each practice," Strome said.

Strome and the coaches have worked on fine-tuning his all-around game, both his offensive- and neutral-zone game when he doesn't have the puck, and his defensive game.

His hockey sense gives him an edge, Pellerin said, because he can use his understanding of the offensive game, reverse it and apply that defensively.

Strome has been part of one of the most consistent parts of the Sound Tigers' lineup since before they were technically Sound Tigers this season. Strome and Lee were together from the start of New York Islanders training camp, playing the wings with Brock Nelson between them.

"(Strome) is a really skilled guy. He sees the ice really well," Lee said. "We've been feeding off each other pretty well."

Nelson stuck with the New York Islanders, though they sent him down Saturday night to play Sunday. Strome and Lee came down to the Sound Tigers, and Strome moved back to center.

Playing in the middle gives Strome a little more defensive responsibility and lets him make plays.

"And he has deceptive speed," Pellerin said. "If he gets open ice, he can make the lateral moves, he can find the open ice."